The 2019 Urban Nomad Awards

The 18th annual Urban Nomad Awards were handed out on May 26, with the Grand Prize handed out to Taiwanese-American director Patrick Wang for his two-part feature film A Bread Factory Parts One and Two, which stars Taiwanese actor and TV host Janet Hsieh. The Audience Choice Award meanwhile went to the festival’s closing film, Love Boat: Taiwan, a documentary by Valerie Soe on soft power and shenanigans at Taiwan’s most famous study exchange program. The doc made its Asia Premiere and third overall festival appearance.

Urban Nomad’s Music Video Awards, the only awards focused on indie music videos in Taiwan, handed out Best Music Video went to “Our Future” by the band Shallow Levée, while the online audience vote went to “The Unforgettable Memory” by the band Infancy.

In 2019, Urban Nomad received around 400 submissions in multiple categories and handed out seven awards worth TWD 80,000 in cash and post-production services. The ceremony took place at the Wonderful Theater in Ximen on the festival’s second-to-last day and put an exclamation on seven weeks of events from April 13 to May 27, which included around 50 screenings, 37 films making Taiwan or Asia premieres, visits by 10 international filmmakers, a 2000-person music festival headlined by Mouse on the Keys and featuring 40 performing groups, as well as other concerts, panels and parties. Total attendance for all Urban Nomad events in Taipei is estimated at 8,000 visitors. Urban Nomad further plans to tour films to Taoyuan Arts Cinema, Hsinchu Image Museum and other locations later in the year.

A Bread Factory Parts One and Two tells the story of a local arts center in a small New England town, the Bread Factory, that has provided decades of service to its community, but now struggles to survive a crisis of funding, that weaves together politics, gentrification and changing standards of art. “When I toured with my first film, The Grief of Others, it was often playing in art spaces like the Bread Factory,” said director Patrick Wang, speaking to the audience at one of two Q&As at Urban Nomad. “The people running these many Bread Factories always look strong on the outside, like they will go on forever, but once you spend time with them, you realize how difficult their situations are. Every day they make the decision whether or not to continue.”

The film jury, made up of Taiwan filmmaker Singing Chen (陳芯宜), filmmaker and musician Quest Lai (賴Q), and British director-producer John Head, recognized A Bread Factory as a valuable statement on the arts, noting, “The form of the film is free and unique, and it is filled with a sense of ironic humor and introspection.”

Urban Nomad’s Jury Prize went to director Adong Liu’s 50-minute documentary on a forbidden song of 1960s Taiwan, Iâm-tiâⁿ khu-tiúⁿ. Two other short films also received prizes: The Far East Rising Star Award, which offers free DCP production services, went to Alchemy by Shin Ho Feng, and When the Silence Comes by director Hung Liang-hsin received a Special Jury Award.

In all, around 40 filmmakers took part in the 2019 Urban Nomad Film Fest. Q&As, panels and events additionally featured stars, experts and leaders in film including Janet Hsieh, Basque singer and filmmaker Fermin Muguruza, international directors Hao Wu (People’s Republic of Desire), David Dietl (Berlin Bouncer), FINT (Fonotune: An Electric Fairy Tale), Amuer (Punks from Afar), Valerie Soe (Love Boat: Taiwan); local music scene leaders including ROXY founder Ling Wei (凌威), Taiwan’s godfather of electronic music DJ @llen, Wake Up music festival director Yan ting-hsien (顏廷憲), Underworld live music venue founder Ho Tung-hung (何東洪); and representatives from Taipei Film Commission, CNEX, National Culture and Arts Foundation, the Taiwan Film Institute and 420 Taiwan. Major participating sponsors included MOX, Core Cultural, Far East Transvideo, the Goethe Institute, the British Council, Bessie Beyer and Redpoint Beer.

2019 Urban Nomad Film Awards

Jurors: Singing Chen, Lai Q, John Head

Grand Prize

Film:A Bread Factory, Parts One & TwoDirector: Patrick WangJury Statement: The form of the film is free and unique, and it is filled with a sense of ironic humor and introspection. –– Singing Chen

Jury Prize

Film:Iâm-tiâⁿ khu-tiúⁿDirector: Adiong Lu 盧彥中Jury Statement: Centered on the story of a song banned under Taiwan’s martial law period, It fascinatingly leads the audience into the impassioned old days, and recalls a grand and beguiling era. –– Lai Q

Far East Rising Star Award

Film:AlchemyDirector: Shin Ho Feng 施合峰Jury Statement: The film concerns a factory in an unnamed place which pollutes the surrounding area 24/7. The film is slow and ponderous but it fulfils its purpose nicely by illustrating the thoughtless and widespread activity of many such amoral enterprises around the world. –– John Head

Special Jury Prize

Film:When The Silence ComesDirector: Huang Liang-Hsin 黃亮昕Jury Statement: The film reveals a huge gap in what words can communicate, and also grasps a sense of comfort, and expectations for the next meeting. –– Lai Q

Audience Choice Award

Film:Love Boat: TaiwanDirector: Valerie SoeAward Statement: A real crowd pleaser about soft power and shenanigans at Taiwan’s most famous study exchange program. It was funny, sentimental and told a great story. The audience totally ate it up. –– David Frazier

2019 Urban Nomad Music Video Awards

Jurors: Ho Tung-hung, Woody Chen, Mao Jr-Shin

Best Music Video

Song:“Our Future” 我們的未來Artist: Shallow Levée 淺堤樂團Director: Tang Yung-ru 湯詠茹Jury Statement: Simple elements are arranged into a video that leaves a deep impression. Details are arranged with care, making you want to go back for repeat viewings.